South Jordan police present crime‑reporting changes and local trends; city crime rates remain lower than Salt Lake City under new reporting

Police leaders briefed the South Jordan City Council on Feb. 4 about changes in crime reporting and recent local trends, saying a national switch to the National Incident Based Reporting System (NIBRS) has increased published crime rates nationwide and changes how local figures compare to previous years.

Chief Carr (introduced by the mayor) explained that until 2020 the Uniform Crime Reporting summary (index) system counted eight major offenses to calculate a city crime rate. Under NIBRS, ‘‘we count a whole host of things that we now look at and can look at on a year to year basis,’’ Chief Carr said, describing the change as ‘‘a much more comprehensive system’’ for comparing communities.

Using the department’s records management and dispatch data for 2021–2024,…